Title: Re: Chuck... that IS you!!!
Post by: gibbo_335 on December 12, 2008, 05:22:15 AM
:o CRIKEY!!!! :o
Title: Re: Chuck... that IS you!!!
Post by: cotejy on December 12, 2008, 03:04:34 PM
WOW! Have you seen this guy eyes when he explain the first time he did a roll?
Title: Re: Chuck... that IS you!!!
Post by: leiafee on December 12, 2008, 07:48:31 PM
Cool, but that "first time" stuff's got to be a US-centric thing if it's true -- UKside the Army heli display lot have been flipflopping whirlycopters for some time now...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8alR96JQGJs
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zSilC8fjYUQ
Title: Re: Chuck... that IS you!!!
Post by: Mike on December 12, 2008, 09:36:06 PM
Cool, but that "first time" stuff's got to be a US-centric thing if it's true -- UKside the Army heli display lot have been flipflopping whirlycopters for some time now...
Heh heh . . . ;D
I didn't want to take away from Chuck's moment there initially, but you're totally right. The Westland Lynx featured in the videos you posted (which are AWESOME by the way) also has a rigid rotor head like Chuck describes in his interview. In fact the Germans and the British have been flying loops since the 70's. Don't know what they do at that island you're at but the German Military trains all their helicopter combat pilots on aerobatics as part of their flight training. It's funny how the Americans always think they are the first to do anything....
But, in his defence, Chuck really is the first and only guy to do this in the States. I was involved in his project on and off (even though I don't seem to get any credit). Keep in mind Chuck (much like our Chuck) is a show-man !! He didn't invent the loop but rather went to Germany to have one of their top guys teach him all of this cool stuff. (I forgot his last name but his first name is Rainer and he always wears white gloves when he flies. He's pretty well known in Germany). Which, when you think about it, makes a lot more sense than just go out there one day when you feel good and just "go for it". He came back with a bunch of maneuver instructions written in German which I translated for him into English to get his program approved. Nobody at the FAA wanted to have their signature on this though, that's why it took him so long to get the license. They wanted to put stress gages on the aircraft and more which led to me translating more letter that say it's unnecessary because the Germans built this thing for aerobatics and had been doing them for 25 years without incidents. Then, being the rather inventive guy he is, he somehow surpassed the local FAA guy who wouldn't help him by going to some higher authority (forgot the details, he told me) and now he really is the only licensed Helicopter Aerobatics pilot in the states.
Still a good story, but probably not quite as exciting as "modifying the helicopter and going for it". |:)\ ;D (I imagine that Red Bull had a lot to do with his story also, they like to be the first ones to do everything. I sounds a little scripted compared to the real Chuck just talking)
Title: Re: Chuck... that IS you!!!
Post by: TheSoccerMom on December 13, 2008, 02:54:46 AM
Very interesting background, Mike... that's sure impressive to watch! |:)\
It'd make for a fun checkride with the fire folks.... ::thinking:: Just a thought.... ::thinking::
::thinking::
Title: Re: Chuck... that IS you!!!
Post by: Skid Kid on December 13, 2008, 05:43:22 AM
Very impressive!
This one is still my favorite simply because of the SIZE of the helicopter they do it with! ::unbelieveable::
Title: Re: Chuck... that IS you!!!
Post by: Oddball on December 13, 2008, 08:03:30 AM
Red Bull like to be bright and colourfull but they made a right hash fo the paint job on their Sea vixen ::sick:: should of stuck to its original FAA (Fleet Air Arm) colours.
Title: Re: Chuck... that IS you!!!
Post by: Mike on December 13, 2008, 04:40:15 PM
Anybody who knows anything about helicopters will know how impressive that is!!! And anybody who's ever seen a CH-53 up close will be even more impressed. It's the rotor-equivalent of looping a Boeing 747 . . .
Kinda brave to enter this maneuver at 1200ft . . . I would try it at 5000 first . . ;)
Thanks for posting that video, never seen this before.... |:)\
Title: Re: Chuck... that IS you!!!
Post by: leiafee on December 13, 2008, 06:12:45 PM
I've seen the Lynx display a few times and now find myself watching the stunned reaction of the spectators for kicks ;-)
